The Scrutiny Performance Panel - Service Improvement, Regeneration and Finance met on Tuesday 9 April 2024. The meeting discussed the Audit Wales report on building safety in Wales, the annual review of the council's wellbeing objectives, and the Q3 performance monitoring report.

Audit Wales Report: Cracks in the Foundations Building Safety in Wales

The panel received an overview of the Audit Wales report, Cracks in the Foundations, concerning building safety in Wales. The report highlighted concerns about the priority given to building control services, a lack of robust planning, and inadequate resources, which could hinder the effective implementation of the new Building Safety Act.

Councillor David Hopkins, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Performance, along with Carol Morgan (Head of Housing and Public Health), Tom Price (Divisional Officer for Pollution, Private Sector Housing and Building Control), and Jon Roberts (Building Control Team Leader), presented the council's response. Key points from their presentation included:

• Recommendations: The Audit Wales report made four recommendations for Welsh Government and four for local authorities.
• Competency and Registration: Building inspectors are required to register and demonstrate competency through a Competency Assessment Scheme. Council inspectors are currently undertaking exams to meet these new requirements.
• Staffing and Succession: The council acknowledged the importance of staff retention and succession planning for the future of building control services.
• Financial Management: Discussions are underway regarding the establishment of an earmarked reserve for future profits, which would be reinvested into the service. The auditors were satisfied with the council's fee-setting process, noting it aligns with regulations.
• Collaboration: Opportunities to strengthen resilience through collaboration and regionalisation will be explored, with planned meetings involving Local Authority Building Control Cymru and Welsh Government.
• Planning Department Integration: Building control currently works closely with the planning department, and this collaboration is expected to increase with the introduction of the three gateway phases outlined in the report.
• Reporting: The building control annual report will now be presented to this panel in the future.

During the discussion, Councillor Geoff Jones raised concerns about the age profile of the building control workforce and the difficulty in attracting new talent. Councillor David Jenkins inquired about the staffing required to implement the three gateway phases, and Councillor Susan Jones sought clarification on the progression pathways for building control officers. Councillor Chris Evans asked about contingency plans if a Level 3 officer were to be absent long-term. Councillor Paxton Hood-Williams questioned the comparison of building work with original plans and the reporting of discrepancies to enforcement or planning. Councillor David Jenkins also asked about the top two skills being focused on for young people entering local employment.

Annual Review of Wellbeing Objectives

Councillor David Hopkins and Richard Rowlands (Strategic Delivery & Performance Manager) presented the findings of the annual review of the council's wellbeing objectives.

• Purpose of Review: The review's purpose is to ensure that the council's wellbeing objectives remain fit for purpose by assessing any changes to the evidence base used to determine them.
• Outcome: The review concluded that no changes to the objectives were necessary, and therefore, the council's wellbeing objectives will remain unchanged for the next financial year.

Councillor Geoff Jones asked for clarification on the new evidence mentioned in the report and whether it would be possible to see this information. Councillor David Jenkins enquired about the specific skills being prioritised for young people entering local employment and how young people are being placed at the centre of decision-making.

Quarter 3 Performance Monitoring Report 2023/24

Councillor David Hopkins and Richard Rowlands presented the Q3 Performance Monitoring Report for 2023/24.

• Overall Performance: The report indicated that overall performance is good, with 76% of targets being met. However, challenges were noted, particularly concerning the workforce and social care.
• Report Format: The report's new format aims to integrate qualitative and quantitative data for a more comprehensive overview of performance, including corporate safeguarding risks.
• Corporate Risks: The report highlights inherent risk scores (before control measures) and residual risk scores (after control measures). It was noted that for the cost of living crisis, the inherent and residual risk scores were the same, indicating that control measures are not effectively reducing this risk.
• Temporary Accommodation: The council is collaborating with Pobl and Welsh Government on an additional 60+ units of temporary accommodation to address the growing number of households in bed and breakfast accommodation. Further information on this initiative is expected.

Councillor Wendy Fitzgerald raised concerns about the increasing numbers in temporary accommodation and asked for elaboration on the alternative accommodation being provided. Councillor Lynda James inquired about the availability of wild about your ward maps for ward councillors.

Work Plan and Letters

The panel noted the work plan. Under the Letters agenda item, it was mentioned that a response to a letter sent from the previous meeting was still outstanding, with a deadline of 8 April. The letter concerned ongoing holding costs for the Debenhams site, the trading status of the Dolphin Hotel, and visitor numbers for Penderyn.